Casey James talks about his ‘Idol’ journey
We’ve been saying that Casey James’ American Idol journey came to an end after he was eliminated in Wednesday’s results show, with Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze headed for a finale showdown. But it’s not quite right to say his journey has ended.
There’s the round of talk-show appearances he has coming up. There’s the upcoming American Idol tour. And there’s the battery of interviews, such as the phone interview he just completed with me for DFW.com and the Star-Telegram.
Ayla Brown joins Adam Lambert and Kris Allen at the KISS 108 concert tomorrow in Boston. She hits the stage at 2:15 pm. Check out the schedule HERE.
From the twitter of producer/songwriter Sam Sparrow: “Ina da studio listening to Adam Lambert track vocals with Nikka Costa. They’re making me do runway stomps.”
Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze will appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show Monday…
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Fantasy ‘Idol’: Season 9 conspiracy theories
2) Casey James had to make a last-minute song switch and was really planning on doing a Stevie Ray Vaughan song.
I feel partly responsible for this mini-rumor having not provided enough detail in my description of Casey’s Monday rehearsal. So here it is now: Casey rehearsed the same two songs he performed on Tuesday’s show, John Mayer’s “Daughters” and Eric Hutchinson’s “OK It’s Alright With Me.” To my knowledge, the latter was his choice from the get-go, but at one point, the band did have to refer to the original version, not because Casey had switched his song, but because they weren’t that familiar with one specific part. Separate from these two songs, Casey also tinkered around with his guitar and a single amp, trying out different leads and bluesy riffs, none of which I recognized as having come from the Stevie Ray Vaughan library. And that’s that, but please continue on to No. 3.
Casey James: ‘You don’t always get the chance to do what you want to do’
American Idol contestants often say that you don’t really get to know them by watching the show. If that has been true for anybody from Season 9, it has been especially true for Casey James, the guitar-wielding Texan who finished third. From the very start, Idol portrayed him as cougar bait, as eye candy for the women — getting him to take off his shirt during his audition; playing up Kara DioGuardi’s unseemly, apparent infatuation; and finally saddling him with a sentimental ballad in John Mayer’s Daughters while telling him his audience was women and girls.
‘Idol’ results show minute-by-minute recap: the stage is set for a CrystaLee finale!
You’d think this second to last episode of “Idol” would be a teary affair, since not only does it mean the season’s coming to a close, but it also signals the end of the Simon Cowell era — at least where the “Idol” studio is concerned. But surprisingly, Stage 36 was anything but on Wednesday night as contestants, judges, crew and audience members brought the party vibe to the usually tense results show, and it’s not just because all 12 Idols and three of the four judges serenaded Fox Alternative Entertainment President Mike Darnell for his birthday. More on that and all the off camera action in our minute-by-minute recap…
Free ‘Idol’ Family Event: Danny Gokey hosts finale party
Danny Gokey, the soulful-voiced singer who finished third on last year’s ”American Idol, ” will host an ”Idol” finale party Wednesday at Allentown’s PigPen Sports Bar.
The event starts at 7 p.m. and also features ”Idol” Top 24 finisher Tyler Grady of Nazareth and his band Wailing Waters. The ”Idol” finale airs at 8 p.m. and will be shown on a big screen at the club. Wailing Waters plays 10-11 p.m. Gokey is scheduled to host but not perform.
It’s a free, all-ages event sponsored by radio station WCTO-FM, Cat Country 96.
Kristy Lee Cook to host new Versus hunting show
American Idol finalist Kristy Lee Cook, from Season 7, returns to television Saturday at the host of a new series called Goin’ Country on Versus. Goin’ Country combines Cook’s passions for singing and hunting, as Kristy and her husband, Andy, go on hunts across the country while offering viewers an inside look at Krisy’s music career.
Versus will air a 30-minute sneak peek of the series May 22 (8:30 a.m. Eastern), with the full eight-episode series beginning Aug. 1. Special guests on future episodes will include country singers Jake Owen and Aaron Tippin, as well as fellow Idol finalist — and USA TODAY guest blogger — Blake Lewis.
Carrie Underwood brings ‘Play On’ tour to Arco Arena
Country singer and fashion plate Carrie Underwood brought a crowd of 9, 500 immediately to its feet Thursday night at Arco Arena.
Underwood opened her concert with the stomper “Cowboy Casanova, ” her own stomping impeded somewhat by her sparkly, high-heeled gladiator-style shoes. The shoes complemented a tuxedo-style outfit that lasted about four songs, until Underwood exchanged it for a full-length purple gown, which soon gave way to a denim and applique jumpsuit.
Most sparkling, though, was the “American Idol” season 4 winner’s voice, powerful on more rocking songs and chill-inducingly emotional on ballads such as “Temporary Home.”
Guitars of the Stars auction coming in June
Thursday, May 20, 2010 – A second annual Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction will be held Friday, June 11 at the Ryman Auditorium during the CMA Music Fest.
Fans can bid on acoustic guitars decorated by some of country music’s stars. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Opry Trust Fund and will be earmarked for victims of this month’s Middle Tennessee floods.
Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Danny Gokey, Alan Jackson, George Jones, The Judds, Jake Owen, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker are among those who donated guitars. Other guitars up for bids will include a custom Gibson Ebony LP guitar to be signed by artists at the 2010 CMT Music Awards and a guitar designed by the artists on this spring’s Country Throwdown Tour.
American Idol on The Simpsons Finale
The American Idol judges and Ryan Seacrest guest star as themselves on the season finale of THE SIMPSONS on Sunday, May 23. The episode airs at 8/7c and is called “Judge Me Tender.” In THE SIMPSONS 21st season finale, Moe discovers a talent for judging contests and is invited to appear on American Idol with host Ryan Seacrest and fellow judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi, and Randy Jackson, all guest-voicing as themselves. Meanwhile, Homer drives Marge crazy when he starts hanging around the house too much. Rupert Murdoch also makes a guest voice appearance.
‘Glee’: Complete Season 1 DVD set gets art, release date
Get ready, “Glee” fans. The complete first season on DVD and Blu-ray is out Sept. 14 and will be chock full of extra goodies.
“The show started out as a comedy musical about the underdog in all of us and has blossomed, largely due to the incredible support and passion from the fans that have embraced the show, ” says “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy.
Evan Lysacek Gets Fired Up on the Ice
Evan Lysacek had a smooth transition Thursday night from the dance floor to the sheet of ice for his Smucker’s Stars on Ice performance at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
Bringing heat into the frigid arena, Evan melted the ice with his routine to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” The number, choreographed by “Dancing with the Stars”‘ very own Mark Ballas, was inspired by his good friend and costume designer Vera Wang. Evan said, “She said you have to skate to this song from the end of ‘This is It.’ ‘Man in the Mirror, ‘ it’s such a positive message. It brought a tear to her eye and I thought this is the perfect opportunity for me to do it.”
‘Glee’ Cast Brings More Than Mere Covers To L.A. Tour Stop
LOS ANGELES — Pom-pom pumping, sign holding, dancing Gleeks filled Universal City Walk’s Gibson Amphitheatre Thursday night with ear-piercing levels of pubescent screams, sweat and tears. In the first of their three-night run in Los Angeles, the cast of Fox’s wildly popular “Glee” took the stage to give their fans a full hour of power-packed, musical madness, covering pop hits of the past and present. Pre-taped appearances by stars Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch delightfully kicked off the show as they informed the audience, “You will be barfing.”
Performing in character, the cast launched into Journey’s, “Don’t Stop Believing.” Minor pyrotechnics, flashy lights and more technically polished dancing made the performances more than simple re-creations of their TV musical interludes.
